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EX SQUADDIE DL JONES: “I AIM TO DRAG DUBOIS UP THE HILL!”

Former soldier DL Jones is promising to dispense a solid square bashing to Heavyweight hotshot Daniel Dubois when the undefeated 17 stone juggernauts collide for the Southern Area strap at London’s York Hall on February 24th.

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Former soldier DL Jones is promising to dispense a solid square bashing to Heavyweight hotshot Daniel Dubois when the undefeated 17 stone juggernauts collide for the Southern Area strap at London’s York Hall on February 24th.

‘My biggest attributes are definitely my fitness and my mental strength; both products of the army,’ says the 6ft 5in tower from Queenborough, Kent who is unbeaten in nine (one draw).

‘The military teach you to dig deep and dig in, drag your opponent up that hill. I’m not known as a banger but all Heavyweights can punch and I just keep going, keep throwing. I always prepare for 15 rounds!’

Twenty year old ‘Dynamite Dubois’ has blitzed all six pro opponents inside five minutes en route to the title, forcing a trail of prospective opponents to hide behind the sofa. Soldier Jones, however, was more than willing to step up to the frontline.

‘Daniel is avoided because he hits like a steam train,’ concedes the 36 year old father of two who is coached by Ray Askew and Sam Latham at the Invicta gym in Kent.

‘He’s a very good lad, a nice tidy boxer with a thunderous rear hand. He’s destined to go all the way and everybody expects him to just blast through me. He’s going to charge at me and try to wipe me out, just like he’s wiped everybody else out.

‘But he’s never been past two rounds whereas I’ve completed eight at a high pace. Let’s see what sort of engine he’s got.’

DL (real name Dave) points out that he has been active in combat sports for almost a quarter of a century, longer than ‘Triple D’ has been alive.

‘I did kickboxing for a couple of years from the age of about 12 but, though I was always big, I was never a rough kid really, and didn’t start amateur boxing at the Sheerness ABC until I was about 18,' he says.

‘My career really took off when I joined the army at 22. I became a ‘tracksuit soldier’ for two years. The facilities were amazing and we were coached by (six time ABA champion and Commonwealth Games gold medallist) Chris Bessey MBE.

‘I suppose I had about 20 contests and won most of them. I was Army champion, fought in the Combined Services and got to the semis of the National Novices.

‘My last amateur fight was my first without a headguard and I got stopped by Nick Webb (now 12-0 as a pro) on a cut in the second round. Basically, the doc sh** himself! After that, I packed in for three or four years.

‘Eventually I drifted back to the Sheerness gym where I knew (Morocco born ex-pro) Joe Elfidh from the Army. He persuaded me to fight for money and offered to manage me.’

In addition, the ex squaddie is 16 years senior to Dubois, claims three more pro fights and, with all bouts going to the cards, has boxed 35 more rounds since ditching his singlet in September 2014. While the Londoner is yet to hear the bell for round three as he enters this 10 rounder, Jones has travelled the six round trip on three occasions and also completed an eight rounder.

‘That gives me optimism,’ says the 6ft 5in Jones who now earns his crust as a full-time bricklayer.

‘I get up at 5.30 for my runs - hill reps and intervals – before work, then train for a couple of hours in the evening so it’s difficult but I enjoy it.

‘The York Hall is a brilliant, historic venue. There’s a terrific atmosphere with all the fans right on top of the ring. I’ve got nothing to lose and guarantee I’ll do the best I can. I’m certainly not coming to lie down. An upset could change everything for me.

Zelfa 'Brown Flash' Barrett (19-0, 12 KO’s) takes on former British Super-Featherweight title challenger Ronnie Clark (20-4-2, 10 KO's) when he fights in the capital for the first time;

Elsewhere on a stacked card Nantwich Heavyweight star Nathan Gorman fights over eight rounds; Welling Super-Featherweight Archie Sharp aims to improve his unbeaten record to 12-0; former Southern Area Super-Featherweight Champion Boy Jones Jnr fights at Lightweight for the first time; gifted Southampton Featherweight Ryan ‘The Piranha’ Garner looks to get his career back on track when he fights over four rounds; Ilford Welterweight talent HamzahSheeraz fights in his second professional contest and stylish Ilford Super-Middleweight Umar Sadiq and former Team GB Flyweight Harvey Horn bothlook to go 2-0.

Limited remaining tickets for Saturday 24th February are available to purchase from www.ticketmaster.com and directly from fighters on the bill.

ANTHONY YARDE HAS landed himself a spot on the biggest night of boxing in 2018, with the self-styled 'Beast from the East' set to fight on the huge Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury card at the Staples Center on December 1.

Johnny Garton described winning the British title as a ‘dream come true’ whilst sitting on the edge of the ring apron on Saturday evening, the Lord Lonsdale challenge belt wrapped around his shoulder and a massive smile upon his bruised and bloodied face.

This morning, Wednesday 17TH October 2018, David Haye, in a move that no one will have seen coming has officially signed an exclusive management deal with none other than old foe, Dereck ‘WAR’ Chisora, who will join the Hayemaker boxing stable.

Ahead of the most anticipated fight this year, the rematch between Saul "Canelo" Alverez and Gennady "GGG" Golovkin, we asked numerous boxers, former champions,journalists and coaches for their expert predictions.

Josh Taylor (Scotland) vs Ryan Martin (United States) and Ryan Burnett (Northern Ireland) vs Nonito Donaire (Philippines) will battle it out as they begin the quest for the Muhammad Ali Trophy on November 3 at the SSE Hydro, Glasgow, Scotland.

Eddie Hearn:
“It’s fantastic to see Amir Khan back again after a blistering performance at the Echo Arena in Liverpool against Phil Lo Greco. We’re still catching our breath from that. But this time I think a much more serious challenge is in front of him that he has prepared for intensely with his new trainer Joe Goosen.

"I will come back hungrier than ever to show the world that I am still one
of the best fighters pound for pound, I want big fights and the world has
not seen the best of me, with my new coach and my new team, I will improve.

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Ivana Habazin will make the first defence of her IBO Female World Middleweight Championship against Gifty Amanua Ankrah on September 8 at the Arena Zagreb as chief support for Filip Hrgovi?’s WBC International title challenge.

In the countdown to the September 8 fight between Philadelphian Danny Garcia and Ohioan Shawn Porter, who will contest the vacant World Boxing Council welterweight title, the pair discussed the upcoming event in a presser.

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Undefeated Croatian heavyweight Agron Smakici (13-0, 11 KOs) is set to face Gabriel Enguema (8-6, 5 KOs) on the undercard of Filip Hrgovi?’s WBC International title clash with Amir Mansour on September 8 at the Arena Zagreb.

The full fight card is now confirmed for the Nordic Fight Night on August 25 at the Struer Energi Park headlined by hometown hero Dina Thorslund’s WBO Female World Super Bantamweight Championship clash with Yessica Munoz.

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The quarter-finals for Season II of the World Boxing Super Series were set for the tournament’s Super-Lightweight and Bantamweight brackets at a Draft Gala Friday night at the Rossiya Theatre in Moscow.

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IBF Welterweight Champion Sergey Lipinets makes the first defence of his crown against a man that is quite possibly the best counter puncher in the world today, Mikey Garcia. Should Garcia be victorious, he would win a world title in a fourth weight division.

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The March of the heavyweights slows down this week, allowing our attention to move across to the light welterweight division. The bright lights of New York City are replaced by the vast city of San Antonio, Texas. In a fight that could produce a shootout worthy of the Alamo.

Former soldier DL Jones is promising to dispense a solid square bashing to Heavyweight hotshot Daniel Dubois when the undefeated 17 stone juggernauts collide for the Southern Area strap at London’s York Hall on February 24th.

‘Very early on in life, I learned that you quickly gained respect around our manor if you could hold your hands up,’ says ‘Horny’ Harvey who was born in the London Hospital and raised in flat just off the Roman Road in Bethnal Green.

Tommy Langford (19-1, 6 KOs) will defend his British Middleweight Title against Jack Arnfield (25-2, 6 KOs) at the Manchester Arena, February 17.
The thrilling domestic encounter will take place on the undercard of the World Boxing Super Series Super Middleweight Semi-Final clash between George Groves and Chris Eubank Jr.

SELBY V WARRINGTON ELLAND ROAD PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
IBF World Featherweight Champion Lee Selby and Mandatory Challenger Josh Warrington came face-to-face at a press conference at Elland Road today ahead of their all-British blockbuster World Title showdown on Saturday 19th May, to be shown live on BT Sport and BoxNation.

Welsh wizard Lee Selby intends to cement his standing as the leading light in Britain’s white hot featherweight division by sizzling in the fourth defence of his IBF belt against unbeaten Mexican Eduardo Ramirez at London’s Copper Box Arena on December 9th.